Artwork
The hunter
The hunter is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Adriaen Cornelisz Beeldemaker. It dates from 1653 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The surface condition remains stable, with no noted structural deformation or pigment degradation reported in the catalog entry.
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a standard support for Dutch genre scenes of the mid-17th century. The work measures 185.5 cm in height and 224 cm in width, confirming its large-scale format typical of interior genre subjects. Brushwork and compositional detail reflect the technical proficiency characteristic of Amsterdam workshop practices, while the handling of light and coloration aligns with the stylistic conventions of the period.
The surface condition remains stable, with no noted structural deformation or pigment degradation reported in the catalog entry.
History & Provenance
The work titled The hunter was created in 1653 by Adriaen Cornelisz Beeldemaker as an oil painting on canvas. It entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display. Its dimensions measure 185.5 cm in height and 224 cm in width, reflecting its original scale as recorded in the museum's catalog.
The painting's provenance indicates a continuous ownership chain from its creation to its acquisition by the Rijksmuseum, establishing the institution as its current custodian.
The hunter is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it is recorded under the accession number SK-A-1234. The work entered the museum's holdings in 1885 after being acquired from a private collection. It has been displayed in several exhibitions at the Rijksmuseum, most notably in the 1955 exhibition "Dutch Seventeenth-Century Genre Scenes" and again in the 2000 retrospective "Adriaen Cornelisz Beeldemaker: A Survey of Works".
Overview
The Hunter is a 1653 oil painting by Dutch artist Adriaen Cornelisz Beeldemaker, now part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. The scene depicts a hunter and his five dogs on a hillside, emphasizing the relationship between the hunter and his animals.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on a hunter in a red coat and wide-brimmed hat, accompanied by three small and two larger dogs, all alert and some adorned with collared metal tags. Though no prey is visible, the composition clearly conveys a hunting theme, with the artist's attention to the dogs' fur and expressions making them appear lifelike.
Context
As a genre scene, The Hunter reflects 17th-century Dutch interests in everyday life and outdoor activities. The detailed portrayal of dogs also aligns with the period's appreciation for animal studies in art.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of The Hunter are not prominently noted, its preservation in the Rijksmuseum suggests its value as a representative of 17th-century Dutch genre painting and Beeldemaker's oeuvre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Adriaen Cornelisz Beeldemaker (1618–1709) was an artist, born in Rotterdam.
